This 5-FAM-labeled (Ex/Em=494 nm/521 nm) 20 amino acid peptide binds to the polymer form of b-Amyloid (1-40) but not to monomeric beta-Amyloid (1-40). This sequence represents a new potential carrier molecule to deliver drugs to amyloid plaques in Alzheimer"s disease (AD) patients and to image plaques in AD brains. The ability to directly target reagents to the amyloid form of the beta-Amyloid peptide may allow the delivery of neuroprotective agents to make amyloid plaques less toxic, the delivery of amyloid-destroying molecules to eliminate plaques, or the delivery of reagents to prevent amyloid plaque formation.